Sports

New Head Coach Ernie Kent spoke about his plans for Cougar Basketball program

PULLMAN, WA - Well it certainly didn't take long, but the Cougars have a new man on campus to lead the men of the hardwood.

On Wednesday, Ernie Kent was introduced as the Washington State University men's basketball coach in front of a small but notable crowd in Beasley Coliseum. After walking out with the team, Kent spoke to the media and fans about his plans for the team, which included a high-intensity play style, positive but stern reinforcement, and a whole new atmosphere to Cougar basketball. He tells us how stepping away from coaching for four years has helped him.

"It recharged you, it re-energized you, and you started to notice things you haven't noticed before because you're in that grind all the time," said Kent. "So coming back to it, you come back...fresher...you certainly come back with a different perspective on how you do things. And I think you also get an opportunity to take off what I call that mask that we put on...cause as a coach, when you've coached for a long time, and you do build up a wall, you build up a mask that the media expects out of you, that the fans expect out of you to be this, be this...and stepping away from it and coming back, I'm gonna be Ernie. I'm gonna be who I am."

Congrats to Coach Kent on the hiring...I'm sure we will hear more from him soon.